A. Lozano Rodríguez, in his novella Don Alonso de Suquía, writes of the deeds of swordsman and fictional character Don Alonso de Suquía after the reconquest of Granada, at the beginning of the 16th century. This limited edition cover, designed by Barcelona-based Carlos Bermudez, Albert Porta and Guillem Casasus, touches upon location, period, theme and limited edition context using colour, type, material and finish.

Carlos Bermudez, Albert Porta and Guillem Casasus manage to weave together and express, with a clarity and precision, a sense of time and place, and the profession of the protagonist, using a few gestures, and delivering character.

The calligraphic strokes of Alias’ font Harbour, a clash of Latin and Germanic typestyles, sets a period quality that continues in the uncoated paper choice and letterpress finish. Centre-aligned typesetting links front and back, as does the red and yellow of the Spanish flag, a clear nod to the story’s locale. The slice through the cover has a conviviality and unusual quality to it, of the smile in the mind variety that avoids in gimmicky in the overall restraint of the job, afforded by the book’s limited edition nature. If you liked, this check out Hey’s torn cover brochures for Arrels.

What do you think of the Don Alonso de Suquía book cover designed by Carlos Bermudez, Albert Porta and Guillem Casasus? Share your thoughts in the comment section below or get the conversation started on Twitter. Never want to miss a post? Sign up to BP&O’s once-weekly newsletter here.

Founder & Editor Richard Baird Richard is a British freelance designer and writer who specialises in brand identities and packaging. He's written for Brand New, Design Week and The Dieline, featured in Computer Arts magazine and also runs the resources LogoArchive & Design Survival.